Feather pointer

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer includes an extension member having a spine to support a flexible member, a handle for a user to point the extension member at the computer screen and a hanger to hold the handle on the computer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to computers and computer displays.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cleaning aids and devices such as brushes, squeegees, ice and snow scrapers are known to those who use these devices for cleaning. These devices may be used widely to clean windows and other areas in all types of buildings and can be used to clean and scrape windshields or other windows in vehicles.

However, these types of devices are not suitable for cleaning and removing dust, grime and finger prints from computer screens. Different types of screens such as CRT screens are used with for example computer monitors, television sets and other video display devices.

Flat panel displays are becoming increasingly commonplace in today's commercial electronic devices. These flat-panel displays are finding widespread use in many new products such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants, camcorders and laptop personal computers. The generation of these hand-held electronic devices places stringent demands on their displays. The flat-panel displays in these devices are expected to be lightweight, portable, rugged, low-power and have high resolution. Displays having all these attributes will enable a wide variety of commercial applications in the future. Active-liquid-crystal displays are the leading flat-panel display technology. These displays are ubiquitous in laptops. The display is composed of a grid or matrix of picture elements known as pixels. Thousands or millions of these pixels together create the image on the display. Thin-film transistors turn each pixel on for light or off for dark.

With the CRT monitor, glass is used as the starting material in the display fabrication process. Glass has excellent optical clarity and is compatible with chemicals used in standard semiconductor processing. As a result, the displays must be handled carefully to avoid breakage. However, if plastic is employed as the starting material for display fabrication, the display can be lightweight, rugged and also flexible. However, using plastic as a display has problems. A user and his/her friends will eventually touch the screen. It is a natural tendency in the course of a meeting for someone to express his/hers opinion by pointing and poking at the screen. This is something that happens every day and will continue to happen every day. Cleaning glass is straightforward in that if a smudge or fingerprint is left on the glass display, cleaning can be perform by many chemicals without harming the glass display. Flat panel displays are sensitive and can be damaged very easily by pushing and poking the screen. A plastic screen should not be cleaned with anything other then a dry soft cloth. It is important to keep user's hands off the computer screen.

SUMMARY

The present invention allows people to point, poke, and push at the screen without damaging or leaving marks on the screen. Because a soft pliable material is used to touch the screen, touching the screen does not affect the operation of the screen and does not leave marks on the screen. The apparatus of the present invention does not create static electricity and can be used as a tool for cleaning and dusting the flat-panel display without affecting the operation of the screen. Additionally, the apparatus of the present invention can be used for cleaning the keyboard without creating static electricity. The present invention includes a space saving side mounting hanger for the apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus of the present invention has a handle and hanger which could be made out of wood, molded plastic, aluminum or metal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of the pointer of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the hanger for hanging the pointer;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the hanger;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the hanger; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pointer and hanger mounted on a computer screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the pointer 100 of the present invention. The pointer 100 includes a handle 102 having a cylinder cross-section. The handle 102 is shown as being a tapered cylinder; however, the handle 102 could be a non-tapered cylinder or another shape such as an oval or a rectangle. The handle 102 includes a recessed cylinder 104 to accept the arms 302, 304 of the base 306 of the hanger 300 so that the pointer 100 can be hung and could be made from wood, metal, plastic or any other suitable material. The pointer 100 additionally includes an extension member 108 to extend from the handle 102. The extension member 108 includes a spine 106 which extends and is secured from a hole in the handle 102 to secure and support the extension member 108 to the handle 102. The spine 106 extends along the longitudinal direction of the extension member 108. Attached to at least one side of the spine 106 is a flexible member 110 which could be made from a pliable material such as a feather or a feather like material. FIG. 1 shows two flexible members 110 on each side of spine 106. Although, two flexible members are shown any number including one flexible member could be used. The spine 106 is to prevent the flexible member 110 from collapsing. The flexible member 110 and spine 106 are sufficiently thin so that when the flexible member 110 touches the computer screen, the flexible member 110 will bend along with the spine 106, and the computer screen will not be damaged. This is an advantage for plastic computer screens.

FIGS. 2-4 illustrate aspects of the hanger 300 to hold the pointer 100. More particularly, FIG. 2 illustrates the back 200 of the hanger 300, and the back 200 is shown as a rectangle with a curved top. The particular shape chosen for the back 200 could be varied. The back 200 may have an adhesive on one side of the back 200 of the hanger 302 to hang or attach the hanger 300 to the computer. FIG. 3 illustrates the base 306 of the hanger 300; the base 306 includes arm 302 and arm 304 to form a substantially U-shaped base 306. The arms 302 and 304 engage the recessed cylinder 104 of the pointer 100 to hold the pointer 100, for example on the computer, while the pointer 100 is not in use.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the hanger 300 which shows a substantially L-shaped hanger 300; however, other shapes could be employed. The hanger 300 could be made from plastic or any other suitable material.

FIG. 5 illustrates the pointer 100 being held by the hanger 300 on the computer 500. The arms 302 and 304 have engaged the recessed cylinder 104. The back 200 is attached either permanently or non-permanently to the computer 500 which could have a flat-panel screen 502 which is plastic. 

1. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer, comprising: an extension member having a spine to support a flexible member; a handle for a user to point said extension member at said computer screen; a hanger to hold said handle on said computer.
 2. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 1, wherein said flexible member includes pliable material.
 3. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 2, wherein said pliable material is a feather like material.
 4. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 2, wherein said pliable material is feather material.
 5. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 1, wherein said hanger includes arms to hold said pointer.
 6. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 5, wherein said handle includes a recessed cylinder to engage said arms.
 7. An apparatus for pointing to a computer screen of a computer as in claim 1, wherein said hanger includes adhesive to mount said pointer on said computer screen. 